Marathon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marathon, Florida 33050
Friday, August 7, 1998 11:03 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on a short final approach, the engine quit. When the runway could not be reached, a forced landing was made into a shallow bay adjacent to the flight path, to avoid obstacles,. Following the accident, the engine was disassembled and examined. During the examination, the fuel pump diaphragm was found perforated, which would allow fuel to be dumped overboard, during flight. An examination of the maintenance records indicated that the fuel pump was not inspected nor repaired during the last engine overhaul. The pilot indicated in his report of the accident that he and his passenger had smelled fuel at one point during the cross country flight. Since the odor did not persist, the flight was continued.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadequate inspection of the fuel pump during the last engine overhaul, that subsequently resulted in a worn diaphragm, fuel venting overboard, and loss of engine power from fuel exhaustion during a critical phase of flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1103
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MARATHON
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33050
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MARATHON AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MTH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 250
Airport Elevation 7
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID MTH
Elevation of weather observation facility 7
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 26
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1700
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 659
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 7 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1143
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8385E
NTSB Number ATL98LA105
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20A
Aircraft Series Identifier M20A
Aircraft Serial Number 1563
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 7 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1811
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RONNIE L. FULLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 124 JOY DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City WARNER ROBINS
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31088
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 5A2
Departure City WARNER ROBBINS
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MTH
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 7
Runway Length 5008
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --